Illuminating flare



Jan. 17, 1,939.

R4 H. HALBACH 2,144,056(

ILLUMlNATING FLARE Filed July 7, 1936 3 Shee'cs-She'et 1 Jan. 17,1939. R. H. HALBACH 2,144,055*- ILLUMlNAT I NG FLARE ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1939. R H. HALBACH 2,144,656

ILLUMINAT TNG FLARE Filed July 7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

BY 7M MM ATTORNEY l/ Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT oFFlcE ILLUMINATING FLARE Ralph H. Halbach, Oakland, Calif. Application July 7, 1936, Serial No. 89,281

4 Claims.

` The invention relates to illuminating flares` and more particularly to aerial flares which are adapted to be released from air-craft and the like at relatively high altitudes, in periods of darkness and, which, during their gravitation,

illuminate the surrounding area.

An object of the invention is to provide an aerial are of the character described which may be dropped from substantially any altitude desired and will, at an adjustably predermined height, cause the release of the parachute or other gravitational retarding means and the ignition of the flare so as to p roduce a slow descension of the device while illuminating the surl5 rounding terrain for a considerable distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above, which will embody an improved construction of a flare providing for a reduction of destructive interference of 2G light in the flare itself with a corresponding in-4 crease in the light radiation of the are.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe above character having an improved means for igniting a are or other' aerial device during gravitation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is 3a illustrated in the drawings accompanying. and forming a part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description maybe adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings: g Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an illuminating flare constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the iiare proper.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the timing mechanism of the device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 35 timing mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the device.

Figure' is an end view of the collapsible parachute container, Figure 'Tis a side elevation of the container.

Figures 8 and 9Y are fragmentary side elevations of the container.'

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the sectional parachute container shown with the sections partly detached.

Figure 11 is an end view of theare discharge tube.

The aerial illuminating flare illustrated in the accompanying drawings is composed of a flare proper I6 which has associated therewith a timing mechanism I 'l and a parachutel8 or other gravitational retarding means, and ignition means I9. As here illustratedthe timing mechanism is incorporated within a ,casing 2l which carries, at its upper end a collapsible casing 22 enclosing the parachute I8 and to the lower end of which is secured the are I6. Aswill be seen from Figure 1 this assembly may be inserted into a discharge tube 23 carried by an air-craft, or the like, for releasing the device from the aircraft.

The are I6, as will be seen from Figures 1 and 2, is composed of inner and outer shells 24 and 25 which, in accordance with the present arrangement, are of cylindrical shape and concentrically arranged to define between the cylinders an axially extending annular space 21 within which is packed a suitable flare compound 28, such as a magnesium compound or the like.` The shells may be formed of a slow burning material,

such as card-board, or the like, and are secured at their inner ends to the lower end of the casing 2l and are arranged for the ignition of the flare compound at the outer end of the annular space 2l. As will be noted the inner shell or casing 24 is left substantially entirely open to the atmosphere so as to supply an abundance of air to the inner circumference of the annular burning ring provided by the composition. In this manner not only is a complete combustion of the flare composition insured, but the burning zone of the are is confined to a relatively narrow circular ring. This last featureis of particular impoance since, as will be understood, the thinnessof the ame materially reduces the destructive interference of the light produced and provides a corresponding increase in light radiation.

In accordance with the present invention the are is normally not ignited immediately on being dropped into space, nor is the parachute immediately released, but the device is allowed to fall to a predetermined distance above the ground before the parachute is released and coincident therewith the flare ignited. This substantially simultaneous release of the parachute and ignition of the are is provided for by using the force exerted by the parachute on the device when the by al trip-hammer 34, the latter being .set into motion 'by a-trigger 36 connected with the paralfio ' means.

chute. Theftrigger .3611s formedlby anA 'enlarge-l f i ment at the lower endofa rod 31 which extends .'axially'through the device from within the inner -flare :casing 24 to the .parachute casing. 22and is :connected atits upper `end `to the parachutel i8, 1 f the rod being preferablyzresiliently mounted with 1 the trigger 36 opposite `the trip-hammer 34. by :means of a helicai spring 38 surrounding the :rod

and securedl to thebottom wall 38 ofthe casing` 2 I.. The resiliency of the: tripfhamrneris .provided lby' wa-ilatfspring 4l mounted aboveandagainst the ;z 'hammer -ona backing-plate 42 carrying the sewl 'eral elements'of the: ignition means. l be understood, that with the1parachuitelI8` sud.'z f denlyreleased duringthe rapidfall of the device' .the reactiveforce' setupby the; parachute be utilized 'to ignite the 'ii'ararand thus, the devicez `may lie-caused to rapidly descend-froml an`air-. .craft or the like: at o.` relativelyl high elevation` .to a ldesiredlower elevation and :there ignited and caused to vthereafter very slowly descendf Athe remainder' 'of the ldistance to lthe earth,l whilel `illmninating the surrounding area.,A and in this. manner the wastefulness of lighting a harel and releasing the parachuteatltheihigh altitude `of an .air-craft onthelikel is avoided. The spring 38.1 las aforementioned; provides a resilient support" It will thus' for ftherod 31 and a resilient connection between.

theA parachl'lteA and `the :ilare: andA :the ignition. as' the fparacln'itel 'is suddenly- 'opened during falling of. the device', theshock or zieri: 'onzth'e 'connection .means is to :a large lexl tent absorbed `byth'e spring'andi additionally the: `member .3S is caused yto reciprocate across 'the hammer 34 tocause a; repetitive operation thereof insuring ignition of the squib 29.

As an important feature ofthe present invention the distance to which the device is permitted to fall beforeV the release of the parachute and ignition of the are may be accurately adjusted over a wide range by the operator releasing the device. This is provided for by the use of a timing mechanism I1 which controls the stability of the collapsible casing 22 surrounding the parachute whereby after a predetermined time interval from `the release ofthe device, the casing 22 will be dismembered and the parachute thrown vopen and the ilare ignited as above described.

The timing arrangement may be of more or less standard clock mechanism having a winding pinion 43, a spring gear 44, a clock spring 46, and a great wheel 41. The movement of the wheel 41 is controlled by an escapement mechanism 48 and balance heel 5I, which are connected to the wheel by a suitablegear chain 48. A cam 52 is mounted on the hub of the wheel 41 and actuates s. locking bolt 53 to produce an opening of the parachute casing' 22. As will perhaps, be best seen from Figures 1, 3 and 4, the locking bolt 53 comprises a yoke surrounding the axial rod 31 and the support therefor and adjacent one end 68 of the yoke is provided with a follower 54 which engages the periphery of the cam 52 and is urged thereagainst by means of a spring 55 surrounding the bolt end 88. The periphery of the cam 52 is formed with a notch 51 into which the follower 54 is sprung on alignment thereof with 'the notchl to `release the opposite ends of lthe .lochng bolt from the casing 22.' i

Auros 6 to 1.0 is comprised of a pair of half-sections f '5l-and. which are lprovided with lapping edges. 6 l :and G2 through which'are. formed,l atl the oppos-l site bottom .sides of the casing, openings and furthe receipt of theends'cf the locking .bolt

53. The upper ends 66 andv 61 ofthe sections 1 are provided with areleasable lap Ajoint 68 which isreadilydis-.assembled upon relative longitudinal The parachute casing'zz, as illustrated in .isng-r l l movementof the sections.l .As will lbe, seen, lthel opening 63` through'the base of the sections re` ceives thebolt end 69, whilethe opposite opening M received anenlarged portion atthe otherA end i .1l of .the bolt and'upon' shifting of the bolt the.

2o. Meanszare provided for automatically placing'.

the'. timing mechanisml in. operation; zupon the.

discharge ofA the device `from thei tube 23 and.l which-here. ,consistsgofl .clocking pin-1 4. which.y

-extende'radially .through the .casingdl ofA the: timing mechanism and engaged inf a recess .liinl thehub 11 ofthe great Wheel `4l of the timing mechanism,l and: is provided. with a .spring -18 1 which urges the zpin -14 toA outwardl position ree. moving the same= from its locked'posgition 'withinthe recess: aforesaid.: In :accordance with the present arrangement thelengthfofA the lpinA '14. isl such that -withfsame lin its inner position' lthel outer- .end of .the pinwillzbe substantially iiush= s I f :withthe surface Aof lthe ,casing 'ill land when :the

Adevice isv mounted within thel discharge tube 23 i s the'innerwall 19101"v thcztuhewill'hold the -pin l Ain, :its inward locking. position. i However, .onA dis- 1 lchargeoi: theideviceifrom the tube the `pin l'd` will. be released and willmove under urge of the Preferably a locking lever 8| is mounted on the 'casing above the pin 14 and is provided with a -pall82 which is/engageable in a recess 83 in the pin for holding the latter in inward locking position when the device is removed from the discharge tube. Also, the positioning of this lever above the pin 14 makes possible the removal of the device from the outer end of the discharge tube without releasing the timing mechanism. If desired, a safety slide 84 may be provided on the periphery of the casing for holding the lever 8l in the recess 83 of the pin for locking the lever 8l against the pin 14.

As understood, with the pin 14 in its inward position and the timing mechanism wound, the circumferential spacing of the plate 53 and thecam 51 will determine the distance through which the device will fall when dscharged from the tube before the parachute is permitted to open and the are ignited. In accordance with the present arrangement this circumferential spacing 'may be adjusted in order thatthe distance through which the device falls may be accurately adjusted. IThis is provided by forming the casing 2| of upper and lower sections 85 and 81 which are rotatably related to eachother and on the upper section 88 of which is carried the lower end of the parachute casing 22 and the locking bolt 53. Thus by adjusting the section 8B 'relative to the section 81, the" follower 54 carried by the locking bolt 53 may be circumferentially displaced relative to the cam slot 51. Preferably, and as illustrated in Figure '5. a set of graduations 88 may be provided on 75 4o. l spring 18 to .release .the timing. mechanism. l.

the abutting edges of the sections 86 and 81 for indicating the time or distance interval that the parachute will be released after the device has been discharged from the tube.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the device is rested within the discharge tube on a removable bottom 89 supported on a plurality of dogs 9|.

These dogs are, in turn, grooved and receive a plurality of spiral teeth 92 which on rotation of the tube, as by means of. a handle 93 cause the retraction of the dogs from under the bottom 89 and the release of the device through the open bottom end 94 of the tube. The tube may be loaded through the upper end thereof by opening the removable covering 95 thereat.

While in the present embodiment a parachute has been specically disclosed as a gravitational retarding means it will be understood that any equivalent means, such as a balloon and means i'or inilating the same during gravitation may be used. Similarly while I prefer the type of ignition means disclosed, it will be clear that electrical and other mechanical means may be operated by the reactive force on the gravitational retarding means for igniting the flare compound.

I claim;

1. An aerial device adapted to be dropped i'rom a relatively high elevation, gravitational retarding means connected to said device, ignition means for said device, timing means for operating said gravitational retarding means and said ignition means during the gravitation of said device, a discharge tube for said device, and means connected to said timing means and engageable with said tube and automatically operative upon release of said device i'rom said discharge tube to place said timing means in operation.

2. An aerial device adapted to be dropped from a relatively high altitude comprising, a casing, gravitational retarding means carried by said casing, a mechanism for placing into operationl said means during gravitation of. said device and including an operating member extending from a side oi said casing, a discharge tube for said casing and engageable with said member for holding said mechanism inoperable whereby on ejectment of said device from said tube said member will be released to automatically place said timing mechanism in operation.

3. An aerial device adapted to be dropped from a relatively high altitude comprising, a casing, a parachute carried by said casing and releasable therefrom during gravitation of said device, ignition means furnished with said casing and including a reciprocative operating member, and means separate from saidignition means and resiliently connecting said parachute with said ignition means and causing an oscillation of said ignition means upon opening lof said parachute.

4; An aerial device adapted to be dropped from a relatively high altitude comprising a casing, a parachute normally folded in said casing, meansoperableto release said parachute during gravitation or. the device, a second casing and ignition means carried by said second casing, and resilient means separate from said ignition means connecting said parachute and second on opening of said parachute.

RALPH H. HALBACH. 

